Action from the Brisbane-Adelaide and North Melbourne-Port Adelaide clashes earlier this season. Photos: AFL MEDIA
The possibilities aren’t endless, but they’re nonetheless potent. Who out there is up for an AFLW grand final rematch between last year’s premiers Brisbane and runners-up North Melbourne?
If crosstown rivalries are your thing, you’ll surely be barracking for a Crows-Power showdown as this year’s decider.
Finally, if underdogs challenging powerhouses are more your style, then you’ll go for a Lions-Power, or Kangaroos-Crows main event — though in the Crows’ case, it’d be a stretch to call them underdogs, considering that they’re three-time premiers. No matter. The preliminary finals are here. The next stop, for the winners, is the grand final.
FIRST PRELIMINARY FINAL
NORTH MELBOURNE (11-0-1) v PORT ADELAIDE (9-4) (IKON Park, Saturday, Norwood Oval, 3.05 pm local time)
The Power are currently riding a tidal wave of momentum. They completed the home-and-away season by winning their last five contests, then defeated a fellow top eight side for the first time this season by whacking Richmond by 24 points. Last weekend, though, the Power completely outdid themselves in a semi-final. They staged an epic comeback, surging from 22 points down at three-quarter time to overtake and defeat Hawthorn by a solitary point. The Power have, to their great credit, made every doubter eat crow as they’ve taken down more experienced sides in the finals. But if Port Adelaide represents a battering ram, then undefeated North Melbourne — playing at home, with a supremely talented and more experienced list — embodies an immovable object. The Power — with their emerging young talent — will be brave but will likely get overrun in the second half by this Kangaroos side that has played angry all season and looks destined to win their maiden flag.
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SECOND PRELIMINARY FINAL
BRISBANE (10-2) v ADELAIDE (9-4) (Brighton Homes Arena, Saturday, 6.30 pm local time)
The Lions have enjoyed a bye week, by virtue of their qualifying final win over Hawthorn, but the Hawks didn’t make things easy for them. Brisbane had to rally to overcome an 11-point half time deficit and even a three-goal third term almost wasn’t enough to secure the win. The Lions’ defence limited the Hawks to just one second-half major and accuracy in front of goal ultimately proved the difference, as Brisbane kicked 6.2 to Hawthorn’s 4.8. While the Crows are coming off a dominant win over Fremantle in the semi-final, the Lions have been their Kryptonite. Most recently, Brisbane has won two two-point heartbreakers: a week five thriller this season and a 2023 qualifying final. The last time the two sides met in a preliminary final was in 2022 Season 7, when the Lions knocked off the Crows by 23 points. The last time the Crows beat the Lions was in round 1 of the 2022 Season 6 campaign. Adelaide was ferocious against the Dockers, and likely league best and fairest winner Ebony Marinoff is in superb form, but the Lions are rested, raring to go, and ravenous in their pursuit of back-to-back flags, and should get the win on their home deck.
